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Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Kaleidoscope of Butterflies 19

How crazy that although I've made several kaleidoscope quilts I've never made a butterfly quilt. Time to change that. There are several options to choose including Cathy's lovely waste butterflies but, in the spirit of reducing my small pieces, I think I'll make a different one. I've been comparing tutorials from Mrs. Schmenkman and Rita at Red Pepper Quilts. Both used black backgrounds which certainly set the other fabrics off well. There was a yard of solid blue in my stash which might resemble the sky. I started pulling some fabric. Easy peasy small quilt of about 40-50 blocks.

Then I noticed some fabric intended for a shirt... and I need a shirt. The pattern was not in my new {clear} bin so I had remember where it was. That was an experience. Finally found it behind the DVD storage boxes. How did it ever end up there? You'd think I'd been hiding it. At the bottom was a large set of 2.5" strips cut for a Rachel Clark coat class. It's been sitting here for twenty years.

Vintage strips should make good toddler quilts

Even if it doesn't look like it, almost half of this fabric is green and I have some young friends who like green. The old bait-and-switch still works. Off to make Mini Trips. Hopefully I'll start the butterfly blocks next month. Does anyone else want to join in?

Swallowtail butterflies were busy collecting nectar in the Uncompahgres. QS took the best photo.

Swallowtail tiger butterfly in Uncompahgre National Forest

This butterfly emerged from its chrysalis during our visit to Denver's Butterfly Pavilion.

Kaja made some wonderful points about adding words to quilts. There's quite a difference between planning the wording from the beginning and adding it at the end. Is there are way to combine words with butterflies? I'll have to think about that, too.

Ha. My sister took the first with her special lens. The second was in a pavilion. Between the high humidity, heat, large flowers of nectar, and lack of predators, they move a bit more slowly. You can hardly miss there; like shooting fish in a barrel.

Good to know I have a twin out there. Ha. Moving from idea to idea seemed so logical at the time (Squirrel) until I realized how many things I'd picked up and set aside. Finding the strips in the old pattern box was the last straw. I vaguely recall putting them with the pattern but no idea why the box was tucked away. Yikes. I'm getting old.

Thanks Ann and Cathy for hosting Kaleidoscope of butterflies.I see your stack of fabrics you are prepared for action!Thanks for the links both the tutorials are done well.I might have to start another butterfly quilt, I think I'm hooked.

I had to look up Rachel Clark coat...oh my goodness! Pretty wild! Those two butterfly blocks look like lots of trimming and waste. I just used a Beggar's Block (little 3 inch spools) for my Vintage Butterfly quilt...easy peasy and no waste BUT wings aren't as nicely angled as those other tutorials. Have fun (when you get around to a butterfly quilt)! And that monarch parasite sounds nasty. I have wild milkweed here and THOUGHT I saw a couple of Monarchs fluttering around it but they are never around for photo shoots.

Sorry I forgot to add a link, Cathy. Thanks for the reminder. She is such a talented sewer and teacher. I was so sad when she retired.These butterfly blocks do require trimming but I like the way the edges of the butterfly aren't the corner of the block. It seems to add a different effect. I had milkweed but we had a heat wave while I was out of town and it died back. Grr.

Such lovely colours here Ann, amazing what can be found in the strangest of places!I would be up for joining you with a butterfly quilt, goodness knows I am being overwhelmed with love KF scraps, they'd make beautiful butterflies. So, September start? Good job not this month I have lots to work on!

I was so embarrassed to find these fabrics stuffed in the "wrong" box although I wouldn't have remembered why they were cut if they hadn't been stored with the pattern. I hope you will join me making butterflies next month. Your KFs will make wonderful wings - so colorful. And hopefully, I won't find any more lost UFOs.

I'm still working on clearing and organizing stuff. I was trying to clear out the deep recesses of the house, but then the visible areas cried out for attention. Have to go back into the depths soon. That Denver butterfly is so striking!